PLANNING PROFESSION 

Background

The Canadian Institute of Planners defines planning as ""the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities."

 

The professional planner
The recognized professional accreditation for planners in Canada is "MCIP", signifying that the holder of the designation is a full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. An MCIP has a university degree, usually in planning or a related area, has acquired a minimum of two years of responsible planning experience and has met rigorous examination standards required by the Canadian Institute of Planners, the professional association for planners. An MCIP adheres to a Code of Professional Practice developed by the Institute delineating the planner's responsibility to the public interest, clients and employers and the profession.

 

Planning as a career

For those interested in becoming a professional planner, CIP maintains a list of university programs that have been accredited.

Source: Canadian Institute of Planners

The Canadian Institute of Planners

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is the national body representing planners in Canada.

 

Mission Statement
The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is a collaborative national federation that advances professional planning excellence through the delivery of membership and public services in Canada and abroad.

The Canadian Institute of Planners has been dedicated to the advancement of responsible planning throughout Canada since 1919. In its capacity as the national professional institute and certification body for the planning profession in Canada, the CIP has a mandate from its membership to:

 

• champion and lead progress and change in planning practice;

• act as the authoritative voice and the primary information and knowledge sharing network for planners;

• address issues of importance to the planning profession and/or the public interest;

• institute national standards for training, certification and best practices achieved through continued professional development of its membership; and

• deliver relevant and contemporary benefits and services to its members.

 

Working on behalf of planners and the planning profession, CIP serves as the national voice of Canada's planning community. More than half of the CIP's 6,000 members are government employees, mainly working for municipal/local planning offices.

More than one-third of our members work in private businesses, typically as consultants, developers, or as advisors to lawyers or corporations. Many are involved in projects in other countries. The planning profession is part of a growing multi-million dollar service sector in Canada's economy that includes engineers, architects, landscape architects, and surveyors, among others.

 

Institute Services
The Institute provides the following core services to its members:

• Plan Canada, a quarterly magazine that keeps members up-to-date on current planning issues and topics of interest,

• awards for planning excellence,

• an annual national conference,

• online information and services (bookmark the CIP Web site www.cip-icu.ca!),

• timely information on professional development and career opportunities.

Affiliates
Admission to CIP is governed by seven separate provincial and regional affiliates that handle membership, a wide range of services at the grassroots level including conferences, workshops, newsletters and social events, and disciplinary issues.

 

CIP & Students
CIP accredits 28 planning programs (9 undergraduate, 19 graduate) after a review process evaluating courses and faculty. Students enrolled in these programs are entitled to become student members and may apply for one of four annual student scholarships. Each year, an award recognizes the top student member in each planning program for academic excellence. The Institute also provides financial assistance to the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Planning Students.

 

CIP in the World Community

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) has been engaged in a variety of international activities for some 20 years.  This work has been undertaken with three primary strategic objectives:

• Education & Awareness Building: Influencing policy related to international urban affairs, export development, and international urban cooperation.

• Employment Opportunities & Business Development: Generating employment and business opportunities for CIP members.

• International Cooperation & Development Assistance: Contributing to social consciousness in Canada on the state of planning abroad, and participating in projects that advance the profession and establish stronger planning-related institutions at home and abroad.

Source: Canadian Institute of Planners

 

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Employment Opportunities

API Postings

job postings

Planetizen postings  

Planetizen job ads

National postings

CIP job ads  

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Current Issues

Policy Papers (See About API)

 

Press Coverage

Urban Planners out of step with society By Brian Lee Crowley - A debate between a free market advocate and three of our members

API president writes in NB Daily on rural-urban planning  

Planetizen News Feed

Reports & Presentations

HRM Learns From Sweden (March 2010)

Social Sustainability in Sweden (March 2010)

Urban Design in the Atlantic Provinces: examples of how to plan and design the shape, form and appearance of a community

References

Plan Canada

Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research

An International Urban History

Urban History Review

The Canadian Geographer

The Canadian Journal of Urban Research

Interest & Atlantic Publication Sites

(See Links: Education)

Lectures

See Conference proceedings

See Module proceedings

   

Archives

Do you have current issues or references that you would like to see posted here? Contact Samantha Murphy by email: atlanticplanners at gmail.com

 

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TRAINING & EDUCATION